Mauricio Pochettino Set to Coach US National Team

Mauricio Pochettino has reportedly agreed to become the new head coach of the United States national soccer team, according to several sources on Thursday.

The Athletic and ESPN both reported that anonymous sources confirmed Pochettino, who left his position as head coach of Chelsea in May, is set to succeed Gregg Berhalter.

Pochettino, 52, will take on this role as the United States gears up to co-host the 2026 World Cup alongside Mexico and Canada.

Pochettino departed Chelsea after guiding the team to a sixth-place finish in the Premier League during his single season in charge. His previous coaching experience includes managing Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham Hotspur.

The reports indicate that the agreement with Pochettino was reached following several discussions with Matt Crocker, the technical director of the U.S. Soccer Federation. However, no formal contract has been signed yet, and the federation’s board of directors has not officially approved the deal.

ESPN noted that Pochettino cannot finalize a contract with U.S. Soccer until a financial matter with Chelsea is resolved.

If the deal goes through, Pochettino is expected to lead the U.S. team in a friendly match against Canada on September 7 in Kansas City, according to ESPN.